Pokémon Emerald Version (Japanese: ポケットモンスター エメラルドPocket Monsters: Emerald) is a sister game to Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire Versions, and is the fifth and final Generation IIImain series game. Like its predecessor, Pokémon Crystal Version, it added many features not present in the earlier paired versions. It was released in Japan on September 16, 2004, in North America on May 1, 2005, in Australia on June 9, 2005 and in Europe on October 21, 2005.

Similarly, the first Pokémon Trainer fought aside from the rival has a Poochyena instead of a Zigzagoon.

Animated Pokémon front sprites return for the first time since Pokémon Crystal. This feature was defined as standard for the main series Pokémon games ever since. Emerald is also the first game to have animated back sprites.

Every Gym has received at least a slight reorganization due to the addition of Trainers for the option of Double Battles. Some of these Gyms received complete overhauls in their designs, such as the Mossdeep Gym, which was given a new, rearranged puzzle that the player must navigate through.

The color of the Champion's room at the Elite Four was recolored from its original shade of purple to blue.

Storyline changes

Both Team Magma and Team Aqua are featured as the villainous teams, each stirring trouble at different stages in the game. The objective of each team, to awaken Groudon and Kyogre, respectively, is eventually fulfilled.

Rayquaza is prominent plot-wise, awakened in order to stop the destructive battle between Groudon and Kyogre. It is the one out of the three ancient Pokémon that can be captured prior to the Elite Four challenge, while still at the same place and at the same high level as in Ruby and Sapphire.

Tag Battles are available outside link-cable battling. Featured in the Battle Tower with a computer player (or, using the Wireless Adapter, a human player), as well as at the Space Center stage of the game, battling alongside Steven.

Double Battles are more common as different Trainers can team up if the player is able to be spotted by two Trainers at once.

Gym Leaders may be rebattled in Double Battles, with new Pokémon on their teams that are not regularly found in Hoenn.

The Trainer's Eyes in the PokéNav is replaced by Match Call, which integrated a calling system similar to the Pokégear cellphone.

All the Gym Leaders from Ruby and Sapphire, including former Gym Leader Wallace, have upgraded Pokémon teams. The changes include the addition of Pokémon they did not have in Ruby and Sapphire, or in rare cases some of their previous Pokémon are removed from their team.

Emerald is the first game to have at least one of the Gym Leader's Pokémon hold onto an item.

A new Gym Leader in the Sootopolis Gym, Juan, while its former Gym Leader Wallace is now the Pokémon Champion.

The former Champion Steven can be fought in Meteor Falls after the Elite Four challenge, with all of his Pokémon at exactly 20 levels higher than in Ruby and Sapphire.

Scott, a new character introduced in Emerald, will meet the player numerous times throughout the game, ultimately inviting the player to the Battle Frontier.

Area additions

The Fossils (Root Fossil, Claw Fossil) in the desert are now found in a short-lived tower called Mirage Tower that sinks into the ground once a Fossil is chosen. However, the other Fossil can now be acquired after the Elite Four challenge.

New areas within the Safari Zone and Desert Underpass, introducing 19 Pokémon native to Johto and Kanto. 12 of these Pokémon consist of Johto Pokémon that can only be found in this version other than the Johto Starters, Sudowoodo, and Smeargle, while the other 7 can also be found in FireRed and LeafGreen.

Terra Cave and Marine Cave, accessible only after defeating Elite Four, are home to Groudon and Kyogre, respectively. The caves are not fixed to one location, and in order to track them it is necessary to investigate the unusual patterns concluded by the Weather Institute.

Mew appears on Faraway Island, an island that is located remote from Hoenn. Reaching the island requires a special promotional item, the Old Sea Map.

Altering Cave was added on Route 103, as in the one found in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

The wireless minigame house was added to Mossdeep City, as in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.

Utilizing the GameShark device, players can find hidden music in the games, including music originally used in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal.

While Team Aqua's hideout is at Lilycove City just like in Sapphire, Team Magma's hideout has been moved to a hidden cave at Jagged Pass and has been given a completely new design. Also, Magma Hideout is now where Groudon is first encountered.

Missing Pokémon

These Hoenn Pokédex Pokémon are missing from Emerald and must be traded to the game from another Generation III game to be obtained. While wild Surskit can appear in Emerald, the player needs to mix records with a copy of Ruby or Sapphire Version in order for Surskit to appear by way of swarming; otherwise, Surskit cannot be legitimately caught without the aid of another game.

Reception

Many reviews criticized Emerald for being too similar to Ruby and Sapphire, with Game Informer stating that "there simply aren't enough changes to make this a must-buy."[4] However, IGN gave the game an "Impressive" rating of 8/10, stating that there are "special, newly-created treats sprinkled throughout the experience to make experiencing this repeat worthwhile."[5]

The game uses a faulty implementation of the pseudorandom number generator used in Generation III and IV games, which allows literally identical personality values for a Pokémon even after multiple resets. The game neglects to reseed the PRNG on startup (only doing so when the adventure is begun), which means that the personality values of an encountered Pokémon follow a predictable sequence once the seed is found and/or forced.

Emerald has many similarities with Pokémon Platinum: both are the third versions of their respective storylines, add a Battle Frontier in the place of the regional Battle Tower, are represented by the final member of a legendary trio which was not confirmed to be part of it beforehand, and share features with the remakes of their generation that are not present in the original paired games.

However, since Nintendo DSi-enhanced catridges are black, Pokémon Black 2 is technically the last Pokémon game to have the color of its cartridge match its name.

GameStop released a special tin with a Battle Pass and more. People could get it if they pre-ordered Pokémon Emerald online.

Although Pokémon Emerald was released after Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen and the former's game engine was based on the latter's, Pokémon Emerald didn't retain the moveset changes of all Pokémon from the latter games, instead retaining the moveset from Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. This was fixed on Pokémon Diamond and Pearl and onwards. However, there are now changes:

Some Pokémon retained their FireRed and LeafGreen updated move(s) on their level-up moveset, such as Nidoking's Megahorn.

Diglett and Dugtrio can't learn Fury Swipes anymore, possibly due to the fact that both have no hands or that their hands are not visible, although this is unconfirmed. However, the player can transfer both with said move from Generation III to Generation IV and onwards by transferring it via Pal Park in Generation IV and transferring it via Poké Transfer in Generation V.

Pokémon Emerald Version is the only third version which is not the next consecutive main series game after its respective paired versions.